| Author | |
setonmom
Forum Pro
Joined: Jan 25 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 134
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2011 at 11:16am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
How do you ladies work lunch at your house? Do you have all the plates pre-made when you call the kids in for lunch, or does each kid fix their own lunch? DO you sit at the table with them? How long does it take them to finish lunch? Do your kids eat enough lunch ? Let's just say that what we're doing here right now isn't working. Thanks!
setonmom
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
kristinannie
Forum All-Star
Joined: Jan 27 2011
Location: West Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1363
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2011 at 11:23am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I get the kids lunches on their plates before I even call them to lunch (although my oldest is 4.5 so things might change as we get older). I have found that I need to be in the kitchen while lunch is happening. We either do read alouds, I eat with them or I clean in the kitchen while they are eating. If I leave the room, things tend to go awry. I would love to hear how people with older kids do lunch. I know when I was a kid it was a get your own food situation and we all just ate whenever. I wasn't a big fan of that.
__________________
John Paul 8.5
Meredith Rose 7
Dominic Michael 4.5
Katherine Elizabeth 8 months
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stellamaris
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 26 2009
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2732
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2011 at 11:58am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We have always eaten lunch together. This is a read-aloud time for us, usually. I fix everyone's lunch and pour the drinks; often, the kids help me fix lunch. We usually eat quick and easy lunches:
chicken/cheese ww wraps with vegies on the side
pb sandwiches with apples and oranges
egg salad or salmon salad sandwiches or salads
homemade soup with crackers/toast
grilled cheese with tomato soup
leftovers from dinner the night before (a few days ago everyone had reheated salmon and broccoli for lunch)
I always try to serve either cut-up fruit or vegies with lunch, and milk or water to drink.
The boys wait for me to be seated before they sit down. We pray the Angelus or just the regular Grace before meals prayer. Then we eat and I read (between bites...slows me down  ). We generally are working on two books at a time, alternating days. I try to pick one more serious (life of saint, biography, geography, etc.) and one just for fun and entertainment (Five Children and It, for example).
When lunch is finished, everyone clears their own dishes. I use paper plates for lunch (which I realize is wasteful, but I just get too far behind if we use regular plates at lunch). We use china at breakfast and dinner.
It takes us about 1/2 hour, plus time for pick-up. My kids never seem to get enough for lunch, no matter how much they eat, because 2 hours later they are always wondering what's for snack! That's boys for you  !
__________________
In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
DominaCaeli
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 24 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3711
|
| Posted: Feb 25 2011 at 12:53pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I have all little ones (4, 4, 2, baby), so I make the plates for the older ones before I have them come to the table. Then I sit with them while I eat my lunch, feed the baby (if he's not napping), and supervise the 2yo.
My 2yo goes up for nap about half-way through (she only takes about 15 or so minutes to eat), and then I chat with the older two or check my email while they finish. They take about 45 minutes, including clean-up. I wish it took a bit less time, but I want to make sure they eat enough.
They have the same thing almost every day: sandwich, beans, cheese, sometimes an apple, water. Occasionally I'll do a hot lunch: calzones, pasta, quesadillas, etc. They are always satisfied with the amount they eat; they eat an early lunch at 10:30 to accommodate my 2yo's nap, and it lasts them until a small snack at around 1pm.
__________________
Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Feb 26 2011 at 9:12am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I make one lunch. PERIOD. I am NOT a short order cook. We have simple lunches here - like most of the ones already listed, maybe some leftovers. If an older child *wants* to make a different lunch they're free to do so, but they must offer it to everyone else, including me.  I do sometimes request that an older child make lunch, and they help out.
We get everything on the table before we call littles in, unless they are helping set the table.
Yes. I sit down to eat with them. We enjoy chatting together, sharing, sometimes hearing a narration.
I have no clue how long it takes us to eat! I will say that from walking into the kitchen to walking out (that includes prep, eating, and cleanup) it's usually about 1 1/2 relaxed hrs, but if we need to REALLY MOVE we can do it all in 30-45 motivated min!
Children are in charge of clean up. All children help out!! I read aloud during clean up time.
As far as whether or not they get enough to eat, I figure it's my job to make sure I provide a reasonable, healthy meal and that's it. It's their job to eat enough. I don't stress out if they don't eat, and I don't wig out if they eat a bunch. I just let them eat until they are full. Sometimes, they don't eat a lot if they're distracted/excited/ate a big breakfast/not enthused about what's in front of them, but it all evens out eventually.
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
marianhome
Forum Newbie
Joined: Feb 19 2011
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 18
|
| Posted: Feb 28 2011 at 10:37am | IP Logged
|
|
|
the system that works for us right now is the following: breakfast at 7am, then chores, outside time and then very early lunch, which is more like a brunch, at 9:30-10! it is usually leftovers from the previous day or soup that has been cooking since 7, when we were having the breakfast. After that we have school and the children are satisfied belly-wise until 1:30, when i provide light snack, until we have the big dinner at 3.30-4, when my husband returns from work. before going to sleep we may eat yogur or some other light snack.
raquel
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
KackyK
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 22 2007
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1811
|
| Posted: March 02 2011 at 6:52am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Wow this is so eye opening for me!
We all, including me, eat at the same time, around 11:30. But we all eat whatever we fix ourselves. All dc, from 15 down to the 6year old, make what they want to eat. some cook soup, some reheat a leftover, some make a couple of sandwiches for themselves, some make the two year old her lunch if I am busy. I feed myself and the one year old.
The kitchen is hopping during lunch! It's kind of like a controlled circus I guess when I think about it. Kids around a stove, waiting in line for the microwave, sorting through the fridge. I really don't sound ver organized!
I like the idea of doing one lunch for all. But I don't think there is any one meal that all children will eat happily at my house. Mice always thought of lunch as their time to learn to prepare for themselves what they like.
Cleanup is kids put away whatever they take out, they rinse each of their own dishes and out in dishwasher, then I do the two and one year old's dishes, and mine and any extras overlooked.
__________________
KackyK
Mom to 8 - 3 dd, 5ds & 4 babes in heaven
Beginning With the Assumption
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mamaslearning
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 12 2007
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 927
|
| Posted: March 02 2011 at 7:57am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We wrap up school around 11 AM, they clean up the schoolroom (put their school boxes with workbooks, pencils, etc. away and tidy up the toys). Then, I fix a simple lunch. I don't always eat what the kids eat. The 7 and 4.5 year old help with drinks, plates, and napkins. The 2 yo usually sits and waits at the table. We eat together, although sometimes I sit in the family room (right off the kitchen area) to nurse the baby since it's more comfortable. And my enriching lunchtime activity is....wait for it......The Price Is Right! It's exercising those math skills, right?!
We have an afternoon snack of either fruit, vege, or protein depending on what was eaten for lunch. I use snacktimes to fill in their diets.
__________________
Lara
DD 11, DS 8, DS 6, DS 4
St. Francis de Sales Homeschool
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Planning and Ordering our Days
Topic: help! lunch!
